Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The NASFAA Awards Nomination Deadline is February
27th. Please consider nominating those
in our profession who may fit the nomination criteria.

Gold Star Award

The Gold Star Award recognizes innovative ideas in the
financial aid arena at any level, targeted toward any constituency. This award
is open to individuals working at NASFAA member institutions; member
institutions; regional associations; and state associations.

Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award

The Allan W.
Purdy Distinguished Service Award is one of the highest awards that NASFAA
bestows and may be awarded either for significant contributions in the
furtherance of NASFAA's goals over a sustained period of time OR for a single
contribution of such momentous importance as to deserve the award.

An award recipient may come from the financial aid,
political, educational, business, or other community. In addition to any
selection(s) made from nominations for the Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service
Award, the association normally recognizes the significant and sustained
contributions of the NASFAA Chair with this award at the end of the Chair's
term.

Members may nominate individuals for this award using the
online form on the NASFAA website. Download the list of past winners of the Allan W. Purdy Distinguished Service Award.

Lifetime Membership Award

The Lifetime Membership Award is the highest award that
NASFAA can bestow on one of its members or an individual who is affiliated with
a member organization. In order to be eligible to receive this award, the
individual must first be employed or have been employed by a member institution,
be an affiliate member, be employed by a constituent or associated member
organization, or be a student member.

In as much as this award is the highest that NASFAA can
bestow on a member, the achievements and contributions of the individual must truly
be outstanding and significant. Normally, the individual will have made these
contributions and achievements over a sustained period of time. That is to say,
this award is not typically made for a one-time achievement or effort, but for
working over a sustained period of time for the Association and the profession
in important capacities, and contributing significantly to NASFAA's success in
meeting its goals.

Members may nominate individuals for this award using the
online form on the NASFAA website. Download the list of past winners of the Lifetime Membership Award.

Meritorious Achievement Award

This award is presented to an individual who has made an
important contribution to the Association or to the profession. To receive a
Meritorious Achievement Award the individual should have made either:

An
important single contribution to the Association or the profession; or

Significant
multiple contributions to the Association or the profession.

As an example, Ruth Burns was honored for her
developmental work on the original NASFAA Encyclopedia of Student Financial Aid.

Members may nominate individuals for this award using the
online form on the NASFAA website. Download the list of past winners of the Meritorious Achievement Award.

Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award

The Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award may be presented
each year to an individual or individuals chosen for their contributions to the
literature on student financial aid. The award is named in honor of Bob Huff,
former director of financial aid at Stanford University and himself an
outstanding contributor to the scholarly literature on student aid. Bob
received the first Golden Quill Award in 1984.

Nominees for the award are judged on the basis of
published work which exemplifies the highest quality of research methodology,
analysis, or topical writing on the subject of student financial aid or its
administration.

Members may nominate individuals for this award using the
online form on the NASFAA website.

Honorary Membership Award

Honorary Membership in NASFAA is the highest honor that
the Association can bestow on a person who is neither a member nor affiliated
with a member organization.

Since this is the highest such award that NASFAA can
give, the individual receiving it must have made truly outstanding
contributions to the Association and to the profession over a sustained period
of time. It is not expected that honorary membership will be granted in
recognition of a single accomplishment, but for continued efforts over a period
of time. Several members of Congress, a former Secretary of Education, and a
former Commissioner of Education have received this award.

Members may nominate individuals for this award using the
online form on the NASFAA website. Download the list of past winners of the Honorary Membership Award.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Welcome to our first in a series of MASFAA Leader Spotlight posts. Throughout the year, we'll try to interview some of the leaders on the MASFAA Executive Council. First up is MASFAA Delegate at Large, Nick Prewett. Nick is the Director of Student Financial Aid at the University of Missouri.

Could you briefly describe the route you took to
becoming active in a MASFAA leadership role? What is your background with
MASFAA involvement?

I think my participation is
a bit outside of the norm. I moved to Missouri from Kansas, where I was
active in KASFAA and RMASFAA. Changing regions after 9 years was a bit
tough, but I was surprised at how many people I knew in MASFAA and how many
people knew me. I think it also helped that when I moved, my Director was
serving as MASFAA president. I was asked to serve on the Conference Program Committee for the Milwaukee conference and, while there, I met a few people and was
asked to run for an office during the next election cycle. I would say
this is not typical of most MASFAA leaders.

Why were you interested in a MASFAA leadership
role?

I really liked the idea of a two
year term on the board as a Delegate at Large. The DAL is responsible for
4-5 committees and serves at the pleasure of the president. I really
enjoy the ability to work directly with committee chairs and sit on committee
conference calls. I feel like I am gaining a broader understanding of
MASFAA, its purposes, goals, and future direction.

What recommendations do you have for someone who
is interested in holding a MASFAA elected position? Where should they get
started?

I think my first bit of advice is
that if you are interested, make your interest known. Now, doing that is
a bit more complicated. MASFAA comprises 9 states and really the only
time you get to see people from all the states is at some type of regional or
national conference. My advice is to meet new people, have
conversations over beverages, spend little time in your room. You’d be
surprised what you learn and who you meet. The second part is volunteer
for a committee. Now when I say volunteer, that means participate on the
committee, don’t just take up a slot to build a resume. It takes work,
but committees, chairs, and officers notice. MASFAA is very interested in
developing leaders and putting together the best election slate possible each
year.

What advice do you have for someone who was just
elected to a MASFAA leadership role?

Be part of the conversation, but
don’t dominate the conversation. Everyone can have an opinion on each
issue, but that leads to wasted time. Focus on what is important to you,
your state, and your association. Remember as an officer you support the
association first and your state or your institution's interests second.
Sometimes difficult decisions must be made for the good of the
organization. Don’t be afraid to make them.

What have you learned from your leadership role
that you were not expecting?

I've learned that the leaders of
the organization are caring individuals who not only serve on the board of the
organization, but they also forge relationships that extend beyond board
service. I’m amazed at how many emails get traded between past, present,
and future board members on the “how to” or “what if” or “I have an issue I
don’t know how to handle” which help with everyone’s real job as financial aid administrators.
Board members form some bonds that can be perceived by the membership is
cliquey, but when you forge solid friendships with people you want to spend
time with, it is hard to avoid that perception. I will say it is a
perception.

I always enjoy taking a step back
from a meeting or call just to think about the big picture. I’m a fan of
understanding the dynamics that lead people or groups to make a decision and
from a peanut gallery perspective, I enjoy every moment of serving on the
board.

What tips do you have for being an effective
leader?

I’m not sure how to answer this
question. A leader needs to set an example, listen, and not be afraid to
do the work. A leader always needs to credit those around them, because
without followers, one can’t lead. A leader needs to set a professional
example, but a leader also needs to be willing to have fun. Without fun,
our jobs and leadership roles would be pointless.

Any final thoughts?

I think my best advice is to meet people. We like to think that people on
the executive board should be approachable. When there is a blanket
invite to an after-hours event/reception/get together, take that as an
opportunity to meet people. I think I have as many stories that begin
with “Hey, remember that time we were playing LRC with sugar packets and bottle
caps….” as I do, “Remember that kick ass session on ….”

Monday, February 16, 2015

What an interesting couple of weeks for financial aid professionals in the state of Indiana!

First, we held our Winter ISFAA Conference in Indianapolis. This year we transitioned our winter conference from December to January. Unlike last year, Mother Nature was smiling on us and the weather was cold but there was no snow/sleet/ice or any of those other wonderful winter weather gifts. Big THANK YOU to Kristi Fuller from Iowa who was our MASFAA exchange representative.

Second, President Obama visited Ivy Tech Community College. If you have not listened to the President’s speech I want to encourage you to do so. It is available here. He spent a great deal of time talking about the costs of education and how his free community college initiative would address that issue. I have to say that his responses to some of the student questions were interesting. Although, as financial aid professionals we often have to respond to questions like: Why do books costs so much?” to hear the President of the United States answer that question is a very different equation.

So, your trivia question of the day and NO you do not get to google the answer, no cheating: Prior to the completion of the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1955, what building had the largest free-spanning dome in the United States and was the largest in the world from 1902 to 1913?

ANSWER: West Baden hotel and casino in French Lick Indiana. What else will be in French Lick Indiana in May? The ISFAA Summer conference! I would like to personally invite all of you to join us at our Summer Conference. Check out our webpage for the all of the information.

During the last week of January, I was privileged to be able to attend the ISFAA (Indiana Student Financial Aid Association) Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of the MASFAA State Exchange program. The theme of the conference “Sailing Away the Winter Blues” was a reminder of warmer and sunny days to come, especially during these cold and blustery days of winter. The best part was being able to return to Des Moines before we received our foot of snow!

Everyone in ISFAA was very welcoming and made me feel right at home as if I was still in Iowa! From the welcome at the airport when I arrived, to my departure from the hotel, I was always welcomed into every activity and session. I was also excited to catch up with MASFAA members from Indiana I had met at the MASFAA Leadership Symposium last year in Columbus, Ohio.

This experience reminded me of how it feels to be a newcomer at a conference and that we must always help out our newer financial aid professionals. The Indiana members were so very kind and went out of their way to introduce themselves to me and make me feel included. I found that one ISFAA member had been a mentor to a current student at Drake University, where I work, while the student had been in high school. Another member had raised her family in Iowa in the same county where I live. Some even knew a former Drake employee or two! What a fun reminder of Iowa while being in Indiana!

Being able to attend another state’s conference was a wonderful experience. Indiana President, Debbie Schumm and her Executive Board were so fun to get to know and learn from. I was able to bring back some ideas of different ways to do things, but was also reminded that no matter where we live, we all have the same rules and regulations to follow, and the same desire to help student’s fulfill their dreams of a higher education.

Thank you ISFAA for your gracious welcome and I hope to see some of you in October here in Iowa!

Friday, February 13, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This is our last post in
our series and we hope that is has helped you provide resources that can assist
you as you continue with this year’s campaign.

The Federal Student Aid Digital Engagement Group has put together several tools to make your FAFSA Campaign easier. These include helpful videos you could embed on your website, prewritten tweets to promote FAFSA completion, infographics to use in your financial aid night presentations or other publications, and much more. We've shared all of these on the MASFAA Moments blog for the past two weeks. And you can access these resources and more at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This week we’ll continue
to provide resources that can assist you as you continue with this year’s campaign.

The Federal Student Aid Digital Engagement Group has a Twitter account (@FAFSA) and also has prewritten 25 tweets to make your FAFSA Campaign easier if you have a Twitter account for your financial aid office or even just one account for the whole school (you can share these prewritten tweets with your marketing or admissions office). These 25 tweets are listed below. You can share these and access other resources at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This week we’ll continue
to provide resources that can assist you as you continue with this year’s
campaign.

Using Facebook to Promote FAFSA
Completion

The Federal Student Aid Digital Engagement Group
has a Facebook page and also has
prewritten 25 Facebook posts to make your FAFSA Campaign easier if you have a Facebook
page for your financial aid office (you can also share these with your
marketing or admissions office). These 25 posts are listed below. You can share
these and access other resources at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: The 2015-16 FAFSA is now available! Complete it as soon as possible here: fafsa.gov

Have you been thinking about going back to school? Now's your chance! Get money for college. The 2015-16 FAFSA is available at fafsa.gov

PARENTS: The 2015-16 FAFSA is now available! Tag your children in the comments to remind them to complete their FAFSA at fafsa.gov

If you're asked to pay for the FAFSA, you're not on the official government site. Complete the FAFSA for free here: fafsa.gov

FACT: You CAN complete the FAFSA even if you or your parents haven't filed taxes yet. Here's how: http://1.usa.gov/1Cy6dVr

The average time to complete a FAFSA is just 21 minutes! Get started on yours at fafsa.gov

Don't forget! You must complete the FAFSA each school year in order to receive financial aid and be eligible for some scholarships. fafsa.gov

States, schools & the federal government each have their own FAFSA deadlines. Make sure you complete the FAFSA by whichever deadline comes first. Click here to see the deadlines: http://1.usa.gov/1BebnZC

One thing you don’t need for the FAFSA? Money! Remember, the FAFSA is FREE when you use the official .gov site: fafsa.gov

Federal Student Aid has $150 billion to help you pay for college. The only way to qualify is to fill out the FAFSA. Don't leave $ on the table: fafsa.gov

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This week we’ll continue
to provide resources that can assist you as you continue with this year’s
campaign.

Federal Student Aid provides lots of information on their
StudentAid.ed.gov site that can make your FAFSA Campaign easier. There’s no
need to reinvent the wheel for some of the most common general questions.

Monday, February 9, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This week we’ll continue
to provide resources that can assist you as you continue with this year’s
campaign.

Using the U.S. Department of
Education’s Blog Posts to Promote FAFSA Completion

The U.S. Department of Education, with the help of the Federal Student
Aid Digital Engagement Group, has posted several blogs to make your FAFSA
Campaign easier. You can find links to these (and future) blog posts online at www.ed.gov/blog/topic/federal-student-aid/. Below are screenshots from several of the recent blog posts.

There were many great events at the MSFAA Winter Conference, held January 25-28, 2015 in Dearborn, Michigan, but I would focus on two in particular.

The first was a response to a conversation that many of us have had in the past with our Federal Trainer(s) – specifically, that we as financial aid administrators are often being told to make sure our schools follow a certain policy or file a certain report, when the data involved has nothing to do with financial aid, nor is it in our sphere of influence to make it happen. He suggested that we find a way to bring our colleagues to a conference where they could hear the news directly from a Federal Trainer, in the hope that this might reinforce the importance of compliance.

So, with the formation of an ad-hoc committee to work with the MSFAA conference committees, we were able to set aside a day during the conference for a drive-in event for Bursar and Registrar staff. In addition to sessions from our federal trainer, the attendees also heard from Megan McClean of NASFAA about what is going on in DC that might affect them. There was a session on how the Bursar and Financial Aid office can work collaboratively (presented by a former aid administrator who is now in the bursar area); a presentation of State of Michigan aid for Bursars, and information on Military and Veterans Affairs for Registrars.

MSFAA had hoped to attract about 60 participants to this track, but ended up recording 117 attendees. Many of them were very enthusiastic about what they had learned, and more than one expressed the understanding that they need to review the procedures in their offices to see that they are in compliance.

Our second highlight came in the person of our Federal Trainer. Since we have lost two training officers from the Chicago region, David Bartnicki from the Atlanta office graciously came to our conference to present our federal sessions. As expected, he was knowledgeable and direct, a good communicator, well versed in the regulations.

However, what we could not expect was that he would end his sessions with a song. To the tune of “What a Wonderful World”, he sang to us about seeing SARs and tax transcripts. Later on, he ended his final session with a rousing renditions of “When the Feds Come Marching In”. The creativity and humor was very much appreciated by the 242 MSFAA members in attendance.

Other items of note included the MSFAA Silent Auction charity, an annual MSFAA tradition, which this year raised over $6,000 for the Fostering Futures scholarship program of the State of Michigan, which supplies scholarships and guidance to students from the foster care system to go on to college. The leaders of MSFAA are proud of the generosity shown by our members in raising money for this year’s charity.

Friday, February 6, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This week we’ll continue
to provide resources that can assist you as you continue with this year’s
campaign.

The Federal Student Aid Digital Engagement Group has put together several tools to make your FAFSA Campaign easier. These include helpful fact sheets (below) that can be hyperlinked on your school’s website. You can access other resources at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov.

You will need Adobe to view these downloadable
PDF documents. A link to the PDF is provided below each preview image.

We'll continue the 'FAFSA Campaign Series' next week.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

With the start of each new
calendar year, we begin our task of creating a successful campaign encouraging
students to file the FAFSA, and preferably file early. This week we’ll continue
to provide resources that can assist you as you continue with this year’s
campaign.

The Federal Student Aid Digital Engagement Group has put together several tools to make your FAFSA Campaign easier. These include helpful infographics (below) that can be embedded onto your school’s website. You can access other resources at FinancialAidToolkit.ed.gov. In each image below, we've provided a link to the original image you can download and use.